This Week's Handful of Must-See Headlines

Industry

Video Market Boom: New Projected Growth by 2028
Over the next five years, Asia's video industry is anticipated to annually grow by 2.6%, hitting $165 billion by 2028 per Media Partners Asia. This progression mirrors the 5.5% growth witnessed in 2023. Factors like enhanced connectivity, rising connected TV usage, and the flourishing local creator scene drive the shift from traditional TV to online platforms. Notably, China, with $64 billion in revenue in 2023, stands as the largest and highly regulated video market in the region.

Broadway

New Broadway Holiday Record: Two Plays Soar Simultaneously
During the holiday week, The Lion King achieved the highest weekly gross for a Broadway musical at $4.3 million, while Harry Potter and the Cursed Child set a new non-musical play record at $2.7 million.

DEI

Barbie Success Highlights Lack of Female Studio Filmmakers
San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film found that while Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, topped 2023's charts, women still hold only 16% of directorial roles and 22% across key behind-the-scenes positions in the top 250 grossing films, reflecting low overall representation.

International

Cinema in France: A 19% Boost in 2023 Ticket Sales
In 2023, France's box office surged to 181 million ticket sales, marking an 18.9% rise from 2022. The boost stemmed from a blend of US blockbusters such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie and successful local French films. Despite sitting 13.1% below pre-Covid norms, France's box office outpaced other European territories, showcasing resilience fueled by a diverse array of films.

Awards

Win for Writers: Emmy Awards Will Air Outstanding Writing Category
Following opposition from writers and artists, the Television Academy and Fox agreed with the Writers Guild of America to bring back the Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety series to the Primetime Emmys telecast. This reversal came after objections to shifting the category to an untelevised Creative Arts ceremony. Catch the 75th Primetime Emmys on Fox on January 15.

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INDUSTRY NEWS, FRIDAY5